Spraying device



Feb; 27, 1934. G. L. NEELY SPRAYING DEVICE Original Filed March 19, 19292 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVELVZ OR AT'TORNEY G. L. NEELY SPRAYING DEVICE Feb.27, 1934.

Original Filed March 419, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SPRAYING DEVICE I GeorgeL. Neely, Berkeley, Calif.

'App'lication March 19, 1929, Serial No. 348,164

Renewed April 24, 1933 3 Claims. (01. sea-s8) The invention relates to adevice for simultaneously mixing two fluids while effecting a di'-rected discharge of themixture as a spray.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the classdescribed to which one ingredient is arranged to be supplied underpressure to provide the motive power for atomizing and discharging themixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of theclass described which operates on the ejector, or aspirator, principleand in a particularly efficient manner with respect to the separatedingredient of the mixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the device means forcontrolling the flow of the aspirated ingredient independently of theflow of the motive fluid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device having areservoir for the liquid to be aspirated fixedly associated therewith.

An additional object is to provide in the device means whereby theremoval of the aspirated liquid may be positively indicated, and iseffecte at a constant pressure.

. A still further object is to provide for the seleca fluid thereto, anda supporting hand for the device being indicated in operative positionwith respect thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan section taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, asupplementary port closing screw being shown axially removed from itsoperative position.

Figure 3 is a partially sectional elevation taken on the broken line 3-3in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the device taken on the line 4-4 inFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5--5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the showing of Figure 4.

By reference to said drawings, the device of my invention is seen toessentially comprise a spray gun 11 and a vessel 12 providing areservoir for a fluid to be discharged from the gun, said spray gun andvessel being fixedly related. As particularly shown, the vessel 12comprises a glass jar having a threaded neck 13 for the reception of aclosure cap therefor. The gun 11 is seen to 00 include a body member 14having a bottom portion 15 thereof formed to provide a cap which isinternally threaded for receiving the jar neck 13 in fitted engagementtherein. For reasons to be hereinafter brought out, the cap 15 isarranged to provide a sealed closure for the jar 12, and a suitablegasket 16 is accordingly engaged between the jar rim and the inside endof the cap for effecting said seal.

Extending into a side of the body 14 adjacent the cap portion thereof isa cylindrical cavity 17 having its axis transverse to that of the cap. Amember 18 is mounted at the outer end of the cavity 1'7 as a closuretherefor; as shown, the side of the cavity is internally threaded at theouter end portion thereof for threaded engagement with and about aninner portion of the member 18. The member 18 is provided with a centralopening 19 conically tapering toward an apex forwardly of the memberthereat. To inso sure a centered disposal of the member 18 in itsoperative position, the outer end of the cavity side beyond the threadsthereof is formed to provide a seat 21 which is conically and inwardlytapered, and a complementary conically and in- 35 wardly taperedshoulder 22 is provided on .the member 18 at the outer end of thethreads thereof for fitted engagement against the seat 21 when themember 18 is mounted in place; in this manner, an axially centereddisposal of the member 18 with respect to the cavity is positivelyassured.

Extending axially from the inner end wall of the cavity 17 is aconically tapered nozzle 23, said nozzle having its forward tip portion24 axially disposed in the opening 19 of the member 18 to extendforwardly from the member thereat but without contacting the member,said tip portion being conically tapered to the same degree and in thesame manner as is said opening whereby said tip and the member 18cooperate to define a port 25 of angular and decreasing section aboutand along the nozzle 23. The nozzle 23 may comprise an integral portionof the body 14, but, for purposes of accurate assembly of the gun, itlspreferred to make the same as a separate member. As shown, the nozzle23 is provided with an axial and rearwardly extending boss 26, said bossbeing externally threaded for fixed engagement in a. threaded socket 2'!extending rearwardly and axially from the wall 22. Preferably, and asshown, a conically and inwardly tapered seat 28 is provided along theouter rim of the socket 2'7, while a. complementarily Q tapered fillet29 is provided at the base of the boss 26 whereby a centered fit isinsured for the nozzle member 23. In the present embodiment of theinvention, no relative adjustment of the members 18 and 23 will usuallybe required, and said members will remain at all times in their setpositions; it is noted, however, that gaskets (not shown) might be usedat the centering bearings if relative axial adjustment of the members 18and 23 is desired, the independent mounting ofthese members in the body14 facilitating such use of gaskets for relatively adjusting themembers. Preferably, and as shown, the tapered surface of the nozzle 23is slightly concave rearwardly of the tip portion 24 thereof whereby thepassage to the port 25 is smoothly tapering.

It will now be noted (Fig. 6) that the passage of the nozzle member 23is axial thereto and is stepped to provide a conical valve seat, 30therein, the passage portion of least section being toward the dischargeend of the member. The inner and larger portion 31 of the nozzle passageis seen to axially register with the end of a straight bore 32 providedin the body and extendingto the opposite side thereof. A valve needle 33is disposed in and through the bore 32 and extends centrally through thenozzle passage portion 31 for axial adjustment with respect to the seat30 at the forward end of said passage portion. A duct 34 extendstransversely from the bore 32 and downwardly through the top wall of thecap; in this manner, the duct 34, bore 32, and the nozzle passagecooperate to provide a conduit for removing fluid from the reservoir andthrough the spray gun, the effective size of said conduit beingcontrolled by the valve needle 33. Preferably, and as shown, the valveneedle slidably engages the bore 32 rearwardly of the opening of theduct 34 therein and is reduced opposite and forwardly of said opening toprovide a fluid passage about and forwardly along it, the section ofsaid passage being no less than, and desirably greater than, that of theduct 34.

' Means are provided for variably setting the needle 33 in adjustedrelation to the seat 30; as particularly shown, said means comprises theprovision of threads 36 on the needle 33 for engagement in a threadedportion 37 of the bore 32, and the provision of a knob 38 on theextending end of the needle whereby the latter may be axially shifted byand upon a rotation thereof. For preventing any fluid movement throughthe portion of the bore 32 rearwardly of the duct 34, a stuffing-box 39of a usual structure is provided for the needle 33 at its point ofemergence from the body 14. The knob 38 is seen to be provided with anaxially serrated periphery 41, and a spring detent rod 42 is mounted inthe body 14 to extend therefrom in generally parallel relation to theneedle axis and for engagement inthe notches of the knob periphery.

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a portion thereof lying radially oppositethe cavity 1'7 and beingconnected therewith by means of a duct 44. As particularly shown, theduct 43 is parallel to the axis of said cavity and extends through aradially extending body portion 45, saidextension being more or lesscylindrical and being arranged for connection to a hose 46 containingfluid under pressure. As shown, a cou-' pling sleeve 47 is mounted atthe extremity of the extension 45, which extension, it is noted, isarranged to be grasped as a handle for supporting and manipulating thedevice; the use of the extension 45 as a handle is seen to be indicatedin Figure 1. A filter screen 48 is preferably provided, either at thecoupling 47 as particularly shown or elsewhere in the duct 43.

The duct 44 is seen to constitute the sole outlet from the duct 43 andpreferably enters the cavity 17 tangentially thereof, as is particularlybrought out in Figure 5. In this manner, a fluid entering the cavity 17through the duct 43 will be given a swirling motion through the annularspace defined about the nozzle 23 as it approaches the port 24 wherebyitwill flow through and from said port in a conoidal and vorticallyforward moving stream. It is noted that the structure provided isessentially that of concentric nozzles in which one nozzledischarges'axially within the stream of the other, the effective'passage of the outer nozzle being the port 25 which is defined betweenthe member 18 and the tip of the nozzle 23; in view of this fact, themember 18 may, on occasion, be also referred to as a nozzlemember.

If desired, valve means may be provided as part of the spray gunstructure for controlling the fluid flow to and through the duct 44; asparticularly disclosed, a needle valve 51 is pro vided having the needle52 thereof operative against a seat 53 at the inlet end of the duct 44and extending from the body 14 through a stun.- ing box 54. The needle52 is threadedly engaged in the body and is provided at its free endwith means for turning it to adjust the efiective opening at'the mouthof the duct 44; as shown, a knurled knob 55 is provided as a valvesetting means.

It will now be noted that liquid emerging from the port 25 provided bythe nozzle 13 will create a suction at the outlet of the nozzle 23whereby it will tend to exhaust fluid through the passage thereof.Accordingly, and as shown, a suction pipe 56 is extended from the duct34 to the bottom of the reservoir 12 whereby liquid may be aspiratedfrom said reservoir by reason of the suction created by the fluid streamemitted from the'port 25. The reservoir being sealed by the cap, an airinlet duct 5'? is provided through the body, the inlet port of said ductbeing at a side of the body, as at 58, and the outlet thereof being atthe inner side of the cap top. Preferably, and as shown, a pipe 59extends from the outlet of the duct 57 downwardly into the reservoir andis open only at its bottom end whereby the necessary suction head willbe constant without regard to the depth of the liquid in the reservoir.

As particularly disclosed, the pipes 56 and 59 form integral portions ofa piece of tubing bent generally to form a U, the pipes 56 and 59providing the sides of the U and being connected The air outl let forthe pipe 59 is seen to comprise a side perforation 61 adjacent thebottom thereof. Preferably, the body 14 and the aforesaid tubing areformed of a non-corroding material such as aluminum. v i

Referring now to the nozzle member 18, it is seen that the outer endthereof is concavedly cupped to provide a hood 62 surrounding thestreams from the two nozzles at, and somewhat beyond, their junctures.the inner hood face 63 and the apical angle of the cone of the port 25are found to be important elements of design as affecting the operationof the device. Preferably, and as shown, the hood face 63 is generallyparaboloidal and the apical angle of the port 25 is not far fromthirty-five degrees. Under such conditions, a maximum suction is createdwithin the cone of discharge from the port 25, the liquid from thereservoir is atomized .and mixed with the stream from the port 25, andthe resulting spray mixture is discharged axially of the nozzles and ina definite stream. It is noted that, from an operative standpoint, thefluids to be mixed may be either gaseous or liquid.

A duct 64 extends laterally through the body 14 from the passage portionof the bore 32, said duct terminating at a port 65, and a screw plug 66is provided for threaded engagement in the port 65 if and when desired.The inlet port 58 of the duct 57 and the port 65 are both preferablylocated at the same side of the body 14 and within easy reach of thethumb, or a finger, of an operator grasping the body extension wherebyone or the other of these ports may be closed as desired or required.

It will now be noted that the flow of a stream from the nozzle port 25will, when the port is open. merely draw air through the latter and nofluid will be drawn from the reservoir. To charge said stream with fluidfrom the reservoir, it is therefore necessary to close the port 65 byapplying a finger thereover or installing the plug 66. the action takendepending on whether a temporary or constant mixing of fluids isdesired. When the plug 66 is in use, the discharge of fluid from thereservoir may be stopped by applying the finger to close the port 58. Inthis manner,

the discharge of fluid from the reservoir and through the nozzle 23 isarranged to be controlled by an operator entirely independently of theflow of the motive fluid from the nozzle 18.

While the present device may be used, as has been indicated. in mixingeither gaseous or liquid fluids, the present embodiment thereof has beenparticularly designed for simultaneously mixing two liquids anddischarging the mixture in atomized form. Specifically, applicant hashad in mind the mixing of liquids for which a pre-mixing is notpractical. Thus, a water dilution of material to be diluted and sprayedmay be effected at the time of spraying and the water pressure isutilized to provide the motive force. Further-.

more, materials which may not be pre-mixed on account of chemical, orother, inter-action may be handled satisfactorily with the presentdevice. Thus, it is noted that oil emulsions or chemical compounds maybe primarily formed and discharged in spray form at one operation. Itwill thus be evident that the mixing of two fluids externally of thedevice is an important feature thereof, as well as the fact that themixture impinges against no atomizing surface after mixing. And therelation of the streams from the two nozzles is such that a particularlyfine spray of The specific shape of the mixture is produced withoutother atomizing means being required.

A use for which the present device is particularly intended is inspraying with fungicides or insecticides. For such spraying, theextension 45 is connected to a hose 46 containing water under pressureand the valve 51 set to provide for the desired quantity flow of waterfrom the port 25. The liquid to be diluted and discharged is placed inthe jar 12 and is aspired therefrom for mixing with the stream from theport 25 in such proportion to the water as may be desired, anappropriate disposal of the valve needle 33 being made for the purpose.lar class frequently contain emulsions or solid particles (as ofsulphur) in suspension, and the present device handles such liquids andtrue solutions in an equally efficient manner. The device is seen to beparticularly compact and may be attached to a garden hose and carried byan operator for directing the spray therefrom where desired. It is notedthat when the reservoir 12 contains a liquid. the air escaping from theopening 61 of the air inlet pipe 59 as the liquid is removed bubblesupwardly through the liquid and so positively indicates the aspiratingaction of the device with respect to the liquid in the reservoir.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operationwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which theinvention appertains, and while I have described the principle ofoperation, together with the device which I now consider to be the bestembodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shownis merely illustrative, and that suchchanges may be made, when desired,as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. In a fluid mixing device, a body member providing fluid passages anda handle, means connecting one of said passages with a source of fluidunder pressure, a closed reservoir for a liquid carried by and beneathsaid body for connection with a second passage thereof, a duct extendingdownwardly into the liquid in the reservoir from said second passage, anair inlet duct for said second passage, an air inlet duct for saidreservoir discharging beneath the liquid therein, the inlet ports ofsaid inlet ducts being disposed for selective engagement by a finger ofan operators hand while said hand grips said handle. and means wherebythe stream from said first passage is operative to create an aspirationat the outlet of said second passage.

2. In a fluid mixing device, a body member Liquids of thisparticuproviding fluid passages and a handle, meansconnecting one .ofsaid passages with a source of fluid under pressure, a closed reservoirfor a liquid carried by and beneath said body for connection with asecond passage thereof, a duct extending downwardly into the liquid inthe reserwithdrawing fluid therethrough and discharging it into saidstream.

3. In a fluid mixing device, a body member providing fluid passages anda handle, means connecting one of said passages with a source of fluidunder pressure, a closed reservoir for a liquid disposed below said bodyfor connection with a second passage thereof, a duct extendingdownwardly into the liquid in the reservoir from said second passage, anair inlet duct for said GEORGE L. NEELY.

